Santa Claus's Partner eBook

As quietly, however, as Livingstone had entered, his
butler had heard him.

As Livingstone turned to take in all the beauty of
the room, James was standing before him. His
face showed some concern, and his voice, as he spoke,
had a little tremor in it.

“When we found you had gone out, sir, we were
afraid you might be sick, and the cook has got something
hot for you?”

Livingstone glanced about to find a phrase with which
to thank him for the trouble they had taken; but the
butler spared him the pains.

“We thought we would try to make the house look
a little cheery, sir. Hope you don’t mind,
sir?”

“Mind!” said Livingstone, “I am
delighted; and I thank you very much. Mind?
I should think not!”

The tone of his voice and the light in his eye showed
that there was a change in him and it acted like a
tonic on the butler. The light came into his
eyes too. He drew a breath of deep relief as though
a mountain of care had rolled off him, and he came
a step nearer his master, who had flung himself into
a chair and picked up a cigar.

The next minute Livingstone plunged into the subject
on his mind. It was a plan which made the butler’s
eyes first open wide and then sparkle with pleasure.

The difficulty with Livingstone, however, was that
the next day was a holiday and he did not know whether
what he wanted could be got.

The butler came to his rescue. It was no difficulty
to James. Such an emergency only quickened his
powers. He knew places where whatever was wanted
could be got, holiday or no holiday, and, “If
Mr. Livingstone would only allow him—?”

“Allow you!” said Livingstone, “I
give you carte blanche, only have everything
ready by five o’clock.—­Ask the cook
to send up whatever she has; I’m hungry, and
we’ll talk it over whilst I’m taking supper.”

“Yes, sir; yes, sir; yes, sir;” and James
withdrew with a step as light as air.

“Extraordinary servant!” thought Livingstone.
“Wonder I never took it in before!”

Ten minutes later Livingstone was seated at the table
with an appetite like a schoolboy’s.

It was the happiest meal Livingstone had eaten in
many a long day; for, all alone as he was, he was
not alone. Thought-of-others sat at the board
and a cheery companion it is.

“Tell the laundress to be sure and bring her
children around to-morrow, and be sure you make them
have a good time,” he said to James, as he rose
from the table. James bowed.

“Yes, sir.”

“And ascertain where policeman, No. 268, is
to be found to-morrow. I want to send a contribution
to make a good slide for some boys on his beat.”

James bowed again, his eyes somewhat wider than before.

As Livingstone mounted the stair, though he was sensible
of fatigue it was the fatigue of the body, so delicious
to those who have known that of the mind. And
he felt pity as well as loathing for the poor, worn
creature who had climbed the same stair a few hours
before.